Chair Seat Device

ABSTRACT

A chair seat device includes a lower seat and an upper seat softer than the lower seat and permitting restitution when compressed. The upper seat includes a top board having front and rear lower edges coupled with front and rear lower edges of the lower seat. Two openings are formed in left and right sides of the coupled upper and lower seats. At least one elastic element is coupled to the lower seat and includes an upper supporting portion shorter than the upper seat. The upper supporting portion includes front and rear arcuate portions having front and rear end portions coupled with the lower seat. The front arcuate portion is spaced from the front upper edge by a front spacing. The rear arcuate portion is spaced from the rear upper edge by a rear spacing. The front and rear spacings permit elastic deformation of the at least one elastic element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chair seat device and, more particularly, to a chair seat device with improved sitting comfort.

To improve the sitting comfort and the supporting effect, conventional chair seats generally include a rigid board and a foam disposed on top of the board, and an outer layer made of leather or cloth covers the foam. The foam is compressed when a user sits on the chair seat, providing the sitting comfort while the rigid board supports the weight of the user.

However, the restitution force of the foam compressed by the weight of the user is small. Furthermore, when the foam has an insufficient thickness, the compressible deformation of the chair seat is small, reducing the sitting comfort.

A type of currently available chair seat includes an annular rigid frame, and a mesh is disposed in the annular rigid frame for sitting purposes. The mesh provides the seat with an improved ventilation effect for the user. However, the mesh has poor elasticity and a low strength, such that the mesh is apt to slacken and deform after a period of time of use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a chair seat device with improved sitting comfort.

A chair seat device according to the present invention includes a lower seat made of a rigid material. The lower seat includes a bottom board having a front upper edge and a rear upper edge spaced from the front upper edge in a longitudinal direction. The bottom board further includes at least one front coupling portion and at least one rear coupling portion. An upper seat is made of a material softer than the rigid material of the lower seat. The upper seat is configured to permit restitution when compressed. The upper seat includes a top board having a front lower edge and a rear lower edge spaced from the front lower edge in the longitudinal direction. The front upper edge of the lower seat is coupled with the front lower edge of the upper seat. The rear upper edge of the lower seat is coupled with the rear lower edge of the upper seat. Two openings are formed in left and right sides of the coupled upper and lower seats and spaced from each other in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. At least one elastic element is coupled to the lower seat and includes an upper supporting portion having a length in the longitudinal direction smaller than a length of the upper seat in the longitudinal direction. The upper supporting portion includes a front end having a front arcuate portion extending downwards and a rear end having a rear arcuate portion extending downwards. The front arcuate portion includes a bottom section having a front end portion coupled with the at least one front coupling portion of the lower seat. The rear arcuate portion includes a bottom section having a rear end portion coupled with the at least one rear coupling portion of the lower seat. The front arcuate portion is spaced from the front upper edge by a front spacing. The rear arcuate portion is spaced from the rear upper edge by a rear spacing. The front and rear spacings permit elastic deformation of the at least one elastic element.

In an example, each of the front upper edge, the rear upper edge, the front lower edge, and the rear lower edge includes a plurality of coupling holes. A plurality of fasteners extends through the plurality of coupling holes.

In an example, the at least one front coupling portion of the lower seat includes a front coupling groove coupled with the front end portion of the at least one elastic element. The at least one rear coupling portion of the lower seat includes a rear coupling groove coupled with the rear end portion of the at least one elastic element.

In an example, the top board of the upper seat includes at least one fence portion extending downwards therefrom and located corresponding to the at least one front coupling portion and the at least one rear coupling portion of the lower seat. The at least one fence portion includes two fences extending in the longitudinal direction. A separation portion is disposed between the two fences. Each of the two fences includes a plurality of slits permitting the top board to be pressed.

In use, the top board of the upper seat sinks under the weight of the user imparted to the top board. The bottom side compresses the upper supporting portions of the two elastic elements which provide elasticity for sitting comfort. The openings at the left and right sides of the upper and lower seats provide a larger room for downward deformation of the top board. Furthermore, the front and rear spacings provide longitudinal deformation rooms for the front and rear arcuate portions of the two elastic elements. The plurality of vents of the top board provide improved ventilation for comfort purposes. When the user gets up, the top board of the upper seat restores its original shape under the assistance of the returning forces of the two elastic elements, providing a better sitting comfort for next sitting.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a chair seat device of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the chair seat device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chair seat device of FIG. 2 after assembly.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the chair seat device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating use of the chair seat device of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a chair seat device according to the present invention includes a lower seat 1, an upper seat 2, and two elastic elements 3 coupled to the lower seat 1. The lower seat 1 is made of a rigid material and includes a bottom board 11 having a front upper edge 12 and a rear upper edge 13 spaced from the front upper edge 12 in a longitudinal direction. Each of the front upper edge 12 and the rear upper edge 13 includes a plurality of coupling holes 121, 131. The bottom board 11 further includes two front coupling portions 14 spaced from each other in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and two rear coupling portions 15 spaced from each other in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Each of the two front coupling portions 14 includes a front coupling groove 141. Each of the two rear coupling portions 15 includes a rear coupling groove 151.

The upper seat 2 is made of a material softer than the rigid material of the lower seat 1. The upper seat 2 is configured to permit restitution when compressed. The upper seat 2 includes a top board 21 having a front lower edge 22 and a rear lower edge 23 spaced from the front lower edge 22 in the longitudinal direction. Each of the front lower edge 22 and the rear lower edge 23 includes a plurality of coupling holes 221, 231. The front upper edge 12 of the lower seat 1 is coupled with the front lower edge 22 of the upper seat 2. The rear upper edge 13 of the lower seat 1 is coupled with the rear lower edge 23 of the upper seat 2. In this embodiment, some fasteners 24 extend through the coupling holes 121 and 221 of the front upper edge 12 and the front lower edges 22, and other fasteners 24 extend through the coupling holes 131 and 231 of the rear upper edge 13 and the rear lower edge 23. After coupling, two openings 25 are formed in left and right sides of the coupled upper and lower seats 2 and 1 (see FIG. 5). The top board 21 of the upper seat 2 includes two fence portions 26 spaced from each other in the horizontal direction, extending downwards from the top board 21, and located corresponding to the two front coupling portions 14 and the two rear coupling portions 15 of the lower seat 1. Each of the two fence portions 26 includes two fences 261 extending in the longitudinal direction. A separation portion 262 is disposed between the two fences 261. Each of the two fences 261 includes a plurality of slits 263 permitting the top board 21 to be pressed. The top board 21 includes a plurality of vents 211.

Each of the two elastic elements 3 is made of metal and can be in the form of a metal wire having a plurality of bends. Each of the two elastic elements 3 includes an upper supporting portion 31 having a length in the longitudinal direction smaller than a length of the upper seat 2 in the longitudinal direction. Each upper supporting portion 31 is located corresponding to an associated one of the separation portions 262. Each upper supporting portion 31 includes a front end having a front arcuate portion 32 extending downwards and a rear end having a rear arcuate portion 33 extending downwards. Each front arcuate portion 32 includes a bottom section having a front end portion 34 coupled with the front coupling groove 141 of one of the two front coupling portions 14 of the lower seat 1. Each rear arcuate portion 33 includes a bottom section having a rear end portion 35 coupled with the rear coupling groove 151 of one of the two rear coupling portions 15 of the lower seat 1. Each front arcuate portion 32 is spaced from the front upper edge 12 by a front spacing 36. Each rear arcuate portion 33 is spaced from the rear upper edge 13 by a rear spacing 37. The front and rear spacings 36, 37 permit elastic deformation of the two elastic elements 3.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in use, the top board 21 of the upper seat 2 sinks under the weight of the user imparted to the top board 21. The bottom side compresses the upper supporting portions 31 of the two elastic elements 3 which provide elasticity for sitting comfort. The openings 25 at the left and right sides of the upper and lower seats 2 and 1 provide a larger room for downward deformation of the top board 21. Furthermore, the front and rear spacings 36 and 37 provide longitudinal deformation rooms for the front and rear arcuate portions 32 and 33 of the two elastic elements 3. The plurality of vents 211 of the top board 21 provide improved ventilation for comfort purposes. When the user gets up, the top board 21 of the upper seat 2 restores its original shape (see FIG. 4) under the assistance of the returning forces of the two elastic elements 3, providing a better sitting comfort for next sitting. The two elastic elements 3 made of metal can provide improved elasticity and can have a longer service life.

When the two elastic elements 3 are compressed, the fences 261 of the two fence portions 26 press against the upper supporting portions 31 of the two elastic elements 3 to provide stability during compression of the two elastic elements 3. The slits 263 of each fence 261 provide smoother compression movement of the top board 21. The spacings 25 at the left and right sides of the upper and lower seats 2 and 1 provide a larger room for compression to further improve the elastic pressing for sitting comfort. Accordingly, the chair seat device according to the present invention provides better elastic compression and improved sitting comfort in comparison with conventional chair seats.

The chair seat device can include only one elastic element 3. The bottom board 1 can include only one front coupling portion 14 and only one rear coupling portion 15. The upper seat 2 can include only one fence portion 26.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. A chair seat device comprising: a lower seat made of a rigid material, wherein the lower seat includes a bottom board having a front upper edge and a rear upper edge spaced from the front upper edge in a longitudinal direction, wherein the bottom board further includes at least one front coupling portion and at least one rear coupling portion; an upper seat made of a material softer than the rigid material of the lower seat, wherein the upper seat is configured to permit restitution when compressed, wherein the upper seat includes a top board having a front lower edge and a rear lower edge spaced from the front lower edge in the longitudinal direction, wherein the front upper edge of the lower seat is coupled with the front lower edge of the upper seat, wherein the rear upper edge of the lower seat is coupled with the rear lower edge of the upper seat, and wherein two openings are formed in left and right sides of the coupled upper and lower seats and spaced from each other in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and at least one elastic element coupled to the lower seat and including an upper supporting portion having a length in the longitudinal direction smaller than a length of the upper seat in the longitudinal direction, wherein the upper supporting portion includes a front end having a front arcuate portion extending downwards and a rear end having a rear arcuate portion extending downwards, wherein the front arcuate portion includes a bottom section having a front end portion coupled with the at least one front coupling portion of the lower seat, wherein the rear arcuate portion includes a bottom section having a rear end portion coupled with the at least one rear coupling portion of the lower seat, wherein the front arcuate portion is spaced from the front upper edge by a front spacing, wherein the rear arcuate portion is spaced from the rear upper edge by a rear spacing, and wherein the front and rear spacings permit elastic deformation of the at least one elastic element.
 2. The chair seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the front upper edge, the rear upper edge, the front lower edge, and the rear lower edge includes a plurality of coupling holes, and wherein a plurality of fasteners extends through the plurality of coupling holes.
 3. The chair seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one front coupling portion of the lower seat includes a front coupling groove coupled with the front end portion of the at least one elastic element, and wherein the at least one rear coupling portion of the lower seat includes a rear coupling groove coupled with the rear end portion of the at least one elastic element.
 4. The chair seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top board of the upper seat includes at least one fence portion extending downwards therefrom and located corresponding to the at least one front coupling portion and the at least one rear coupling portion of the lower seat, wherein the at least one fence portion includes two fences extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein a separation portion is disposed between the two fences, and wherein each of the two fences includes a plurality of slits permitting the top board to be pressed.
 5. The chair seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top board includes a plurality of vents.
 6. The chair seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic element is made of metal.
 7. The chair seat device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic element is a metal wire having a plurality of bends. 